LONDON (AP) — Energized at Wembley by Lionel Messi's assists, Argentina's players threw their superstar teammate in the air after he inspired them to a second title in a year.
National team success is finally coming for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, late in his trophy-filled club career.
A look at the semifinal matches in the World Cup playoffs in Europe on Thursday:
ITALY vs. NORTH MACEDONIA
Italy will have a makeshift defense as it attempts to banish the ghosts of its playoff defeat to Sweden in 2017.
MILAN (AP) — Roberto Mancini called up Juventus defender Mattia De Sciglio on Sunday to replace the injured Giovanni Di Lorenzo in the Italy squad for the World Cup playoffs.
Di Lorenzo, who has been a regular under Mancini and was part of the European Championship-winning team last year, was forced to withdraw from the squad after the Napoli full back sprained his right knee during Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Udinese in Serie A.
ROME (AP) — Amid a tight race for the Serie A title, AC Milan is displaying more consistency than its rivals.
On a night when defending champion Inter Milan was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Fiorentina, Milan won 1-0 at relegation-threatened Cagliari to extend its unbeaten run to eight matches.
ROME (AP) — Victor Osimhen scored twice and Napoli won 2-1 at Hellas Verona on Sunday to keep Serie A leader AC Milan within reach.
The victory moved Napoli back within three points of Milan, which beat Empoli 1-0 on Saturday, while third-place Inter Milan needed an injury-time equalizer from Alexis Sanchez to salvage a 1-1 draw at Torino.
ROME (AP) — Another missed penalty from Ballon d'Or candidate Jorginho means European champion Italy still has some work to do in order to qualify for the World Cup.
A 1-1 draw with visiting Switzerland on Friday kept Italy atop Group C entering the final round of qualifiers — but only on goal difference.
ROME (AP) — Victor Osimhen soared in for a towering header nine minutes from time and Napoli extended its perfect start to Serie A with a 1-0 win over Torino on Sunday.
After Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne had seen his weak first-half penalty attempt saved and Giovanni Di Lorenzo had a goal wiped off by VAR for offside, Osimhen came to the rescue for Napoli.
The Latest on soccer’s European Championship:
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Nicolò Barella and Lorenzo Insigne scored a goal each to give Italy a 2-1 win over Belgium and a spot in the European Championship semifinals.
NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Napoli boosted its chances of qualifying for the Champions League by routing Udinese 5-1 on Tuesday to move into second place in Serie A.
Gennaro Gattuso's side moved a point ahead of Atalanta and AC Milan, with Juventus four points further back...
MILAN (AP) — Victor Osimhen's latest impressive display saw him score two and set up another to help Napoli crush relegation-threatened Spezia 4-1 in Serie A and boost its Champions League hopes on Saturday...